Overhead door construction



Feb. 18, '1930.

Filed Aug. 3', 192`9 4 sheets-sneet 1.

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BY @M4 H@ TITE Feb. 1s, 1930. D. A; WILSON .1,747,206

OVERHEAD Doon CONSTRUCTION u Filed Aug. 3, '1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1930.

D. A. WILSON OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. I5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVERTER.

I p. A. wlLsoN OVERHEAD DooR CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 3, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 18, 1930.

INVERTER.- DOUGLHS f1 WILSON,

Patented Feb. '18, 193) y UNITED s 'rajrasv PATENTA orrlca DOUGLAS A. WILSON, `OF TEORIA, ILLINOIS,l ASSIGNOB TO BOWE MANUFACTURING y COMPANY, OF GALESBUBG, ILLmOIS, A CORPORATION OF'ILLINOIS yOlVIElBHIliiAID DOOR CONSTRUCTION Application tiled August 3, 1929. Serial No. 383,301.

This invention relates generally to overhead door constructions and partlcularly to door constructions-, In some instances this overhead space isnot more than six or seven inches an obviously 1n order to eiect the positioning of a group of door -panels from the vertical door closin position to a hori.

zontal position within t e overhead space it requires that certain of. the operating mechanisms be particularly designed for installation within said restricted space. v"Itis one of the primary objects of my present invention to provide a device of improved practical design which will readily lend itself for use in connection with garages and the `like which present the above mentioned restricted overhead space;

ln accordance with the above mentioned object propose to provide a door construcpanels in which the uppermost panel may be quickly swung rearwardly away from the door jamb the instant that an upward force i is imparted thereto, whereby to reduce to a minimum the degree of upward travel of the uppermost portion of said door panel and thus require a comparatively small overhead space to render possible the installation of` the device..

A still further object of my invention is to so arrange the exible cables or chains and pulleys tor guiding same thatthey will occupy a position below the uppermost -plane of the panel supporting guide rails and thereby require the spacelabove the ide rails to be used only for receiving the oorpanels. By such a construction my device is capable of being installed within garages having a min imum ceiling or overhead space. y

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved practical means of simtion comprising a plurality of connected door ple and durable construction which will serve to automatically cause the uppermost door panel to b e tightly urged against the door jamb when said panels occupy their vertical door closing position, said means being also arranged to permit the free rearward swinging of the uppermostV door panel the instant i that an upward force is imparted thereto. j

My invention also contemplates the provision, in combination with the above men# tioned door operating mechanisms, of a deiector which is adapted to be engaged by the vupper edge of the uppermost panel and which` serves to cause said panel to be positively swung rearwardly.

'It is also an object of my present invention to so position the lifting cables or chains as to reduce to a minimum the possibility of causing said elements to interfere with the free to and from movements of the door panels and to this end I propose to position said cables or chains to one side of the guide rails and also provide means for positively guiding said chains.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in the following de'- scription, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed'.

lln the' drawings:

Figure l is a rear elevational View of an overhead door construction which is representative oi one embodiment of my invention, the same being shown in operative association with a garage, said view being taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Figure 4;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view of a I ing chain and roller being removed for the purpose of morerclearlyV disclosing parts otherwise hidden;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional -view of the overhead door construction, said view being taken substantially along the lined-4 of Figure l; Y

fied construction in association with a lift ing spring;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detailed side elevational view ofthe guide rail construction as viewed along the line 8-8 of Figure 1, the door panels being disclosed in their uppermost or horizontally disposed position;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 disclosing the lowermost door panel in an intermediate position;

Figure 10 is a detailed perspective view of the corner of the lowermost door panel, the lifting chain and roller being detached in order to more clearly disclose the structural characteristics of the chain supporting bracket;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary transverse sec` tional view of the vertical section of the guide rail and support therefortaken substantially along the line 11-11 of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the guide rails and pulleys associated therewith;

Figure 13 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view7 of the door closing lever and the lever actuating spring associated therewith taken substantially along the line 14--14 of Figure 13; and

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the hinge structure at the lower end of the uppermost panel, said view being taken from the left of Figure 13.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar arts throughout the various figures, it will e observed that one embodiment of my invention contemplates the provision of a pair of guide rails 20 which-are adapted to be positioned at opposite sides within a garage indicated generally by the numeral 22. The'extremit-y of the upper horizontally disposed portion of the guide rails is secured in any suitable manner as by means of a depending support 24 and the front or vertically disposed sections of said guide rails are secured to the door jambs 26 by means of supports 28, (see Figures 8 and 11). The outer portions of the supports 28 are secured to the guide rails as by means of bolts 30 while the inner U-shaped sections 32 of the supports are suitably secured to the door jamb 26. The guide rails are provided with a curved section 34 which is adapted to accommodate rollers in the manner here- 'inafter to be described.

36 and 38 are hinged together by means of a stub shaft 44, Figure 15, and a pair of cooperating hinge elements 46 and 48 through which the pin 44 extends. Surrounding the pin 44 and extending between the projecting portions of the hinge members 46 and 48 is a sleeve 50 which forms the bearing around which said elements 46 and 48 pivot. The outer extremity of each of the pins 44 carries a roller 52 which is adapted to be guided within its companion guide rail 20. Hinge elements similar to the elements 46 and 48 connect the panels 38 and 40 and a roller 54 carried thereby is guided within the rail 20. Likewise the panels 40 and 42 are hinged together and the pin passing through said hinge supports a roller 56 at its outer extremity. Secured at each corner to the inside surface of the lowermost panel 42, Figure 1 is a plate 58 which carries a pin 60 and this pin 60 supports a roller 62 which is guided within the rail 20.

In this connection it is tolbe observed that when the door panels occupy their vertical position as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the distance between the axis ofthe roller 52 and the inner surface of the door panels is greater than the distance between the axis of the roller 54 and said surface. Likewise the distance between the axis of the roller 54 and said surface is greater'v than the distance between the axis of the roller 56 and said surface and similarly the distance between the axis of the roller 62 and the inner door surface is less than the distance between the closer to the inner surface of the door panels at their lower extremities than they are lat their upper extremities and hence the above mentioned distances are arranged accordingly so asv to effect the clamping of the panels against the door jambs when said p anels occupy their door closing position as shown in Figuresl and 4.

Straddling the hinge elements 46 and 48 connected between each end of the uppermost door panel 36 and the next adjacent panel 38 is apair of straps 64 and 66, Figures 13 and 15. AThese straps are pivotally mounted at one extremity upon the` pin 44 and clamped between the oppositev extremities of said straps by means of suitable bolts 68, is a connecting member 70. The opposite extremity of this member 7() is connected by means of bolts 72 to a plate member 74 which forms a art of a carriage device indicated generally E the numeral 76. A

This carriage device 76 includes the upper yextremities of the connecting member 7() and interposed between these carriage devices is pins 83 extending through and secured at one extremity to the upper end of the connecting member as clearly shown in Figure 14.v

One extremity of this rocker a'rm 82 is adjustable in length through the agency of a movable arm portion 84 which is provided with a pair of slots 86.` Bolts 88 extend through these slots and enable the section 84 to be clamped in various positions of longitudinal adjustment. The opposite extremity of the rocker arm 82 is adapted for engagement with a stop pin 90 which is 'carried by a side plate 92, Figure 13. The engagement of the rocker arm with this stop pin 90 causes said arm to be swung in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 13 so as to carry the outer extremity of the adjustable arm section 84 into engagement with the rear side of the upper door panel 36. A coiled spring 94 encircles the portion of the pin 83 extending outwardly from the rocker arm 82, one extremity 96 of this spring being secured to the rocker arm as clearly shown in Figure 14 and the other extremity 98 secured to a housing 100 which is mounted upon and secured to the pin '83'as by means of a cotter-pin 102. It will thus be apparent that by having the extremity of the pin 83 secured against rotation within the upper end of the connecting member 7 0 and the plate 74, this coiled spring 94 will serve to constantly urge the rocker arm 82 in a counter-clockwise direction. The

outer extremity of the plate 74 carries a roller 104 which is adapted to travel along the outer surface 106 of the guide rail 20, Figures 6, 12 and 13.

The operation of the carriage device 76 'ust described will be more readily understoo by observing the movements of the carriage elements when the door panels are elevated.

Suppose for example that the door panels are urged upwardly from the door closing position shown in Figure 13. rlhis will immediately cause the carriage 76 to be elevated and as said carriage'is elevated, the rocker arm is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby moving the adjustable arm section 84 rearwardly to permit the uppermost door panel 36 to be quickly swung rearwardly. The coiled spring 94 in this instance serves to positively effect the counter-clockwise movementof the rocker arm and rearwardly extending deectors 108 are adapted to be engaged by the upper edge of the door panel 36 and thereby positively urge said panel rearwardly. As the door panel 36 swings rearwardly it passes between the plates 74 and when the carriage occupies the dotted position shown in Figure 13, said panel will have been swung to a position where it will rest upon the outer surface of the coiled.

spring housing 100. During this movement the rocker arm isv swung through an angle of substantially 90 degrees thereby permitting the door panel to experience a rapid rearward swinging movement. This rapidrearward swinging movement of the door panel enables said panel to be moved from its substantially vertical position with a minimum degree of elevation of the upper edge of the panel; In other words, the amount of space which is required above the upper plane of the horizontal portions of the guide rails 2O for receiving the door panel is reduced to a minimum. When the door panels have been moved to their limiting .overhead position shown in Figure 5, the uppermost panel will be inclined downwardly and will rest upon the housings 100 and the lowermost panel will also be inclined downwardly to a slight degrec. It will thus be seen that the carriage device 76 operates independently vof any of the door panels in the sense that the rocker arms and rollers forming apart thereofiare not positively connected to the upper panel but serve as an effective independent means for controlling the proper functioning of said upper panel. As the door panels are moved from their overhead position shown in Figure 6 to their' vertical door closing position, the rocker arm 82 is eventually moved into engagement with the stop pin 90. Continued movement of the door panels causes the rocker arm' to be swung in a clockwise direction against the action of the coiled spring 94, thereby causing the adjustable arm sections 84 to be swung into engagement with the panel 36 so as to eect the positive clos- -ing of said panel against the door jambs.'

chain 110 in position. When the door panels occupy their closing vertical position, these chains 110 extend upwardly from their respective brackets and pass through the U-shaped section 32 of the supports 28 and at the point where the guide rail 20 begins to curve rearwardly I provide a pulley 116 over which the chain 110 passes, Figure 13. F rom .this point the chain yextends to a second pulley 118carried' by the plate 92 and then passes over a pulley 120 which is carried at the extremity of a heavy duty lifting spring y1 22. From the pulley 120 the chain passes forwardly-to the plate 92 where it is suitably anchored as by means of a hook 124. This heavy duty spring 122 extends to one side and beneath the rail 2O and is secured at its opposite extremity to a suitable connecting member or rod 126. This rod 126 extends through a second spring 128 which is weaker than the heavy duty spring 122. The outer extremity of the rod 126 is threaded to receive a nut 130 which bears against a washer or other device which bears against the outer end of the spring 128. To support the heavy duty spring'122 I provide a U-shaped support 132, Figures 4, 5 and 6 which depends from the horizontal section of the guide rail 20. When the door panels occupy their closing or vertical position, the heavy duty counter-balancing spring will be in tension and the lower spring 128 will be placed in compression and the weight of the door panels will be sufficient to overcome the tendency of said springs to cause said panels to be raised.

It is believed that the functional characteristics of my improved lifting and counterbalancing means will be more readily appreciated if the operation thereof is described in connection with the opening and closing of the door panels. Thus, suppose that a lifting force is applied to the door panels as for example by pulling upwardly on a central handle 134 positioned at the central lower' portion of the door panel 42, Figure 1. As

the panels are raised, the tension in the spring 122 causes the slack in the chain to be taken up and when the lowermost door panel 42 reaches the position yshown in Figure 9, the chain 110 leaves the pulley 116. When said panel reaches the limit of its upward movement or in other Words, occupies the position shown in Figure 8, the chain will have been doubled back over a roller 136 which is secured to the outer surface of the guide rail 20. The engagement of the chain with this roller serves, in co-operation with the action of the counter-balancing springs, to give a cushioning edect as the door panels reach their overhead position.- In other words, as the chain 110 is Wrapped around the roller 136, the rearward sliding movement of the door panels is not abruptly 'retarded because said chain is connected to the counter-'balancing springs 122 and 128 through t-he agency of the' pulley 120. That is to say, as thechain is moved into engagement with the roller 136, there is a certain amount of pull exerted upon the springs as the door slides rearwardly, with the result that a cushioning effect is eX- perienced by the door as its rearward movement is arrested. In this manner sudden jarring and slamming of the door anels is positively avoided. By having the c iains positioned as described, namely externally of theguide rails, I am able to obtain very free or smooth running operation thereof.

In this connection attention is directed to the fact that none of the elements constituting the above described lifting and counter-balancing means are positioned above the upper plane of the guide rail. In fact, all of said devices are positioned below said plane and thereby avoid the necessity of using the overhead space in the garage to accommodate such elements. This is decidedly advantageous in instances where head room is limited as for example in smaller sizes of garages where the distance between the upper portion of the door` opening and the .ceiling or cross beams is very limited. The pulleys over which the chain travels provide very effective guiding means and insure positive and free running action. Attention is also directed to the fact that the spring 128 and the rod 126 connected thereto provide a very convenient shifting means for causing a greater or lesser tension to be thrown upon the main lifting spring 122. The advantage of such a shifting means will be apparent when it is understood'that oftentimes the door panels are shifted upwardly with considerable force'and u on reaching the limit of their upward over ead position there is a tendency for a rebound. Experience has shown that in some instances when the door panels are moved to their overhead or horizontal position, there is a tendency for the heavy duty spring to oscillate unless some means for counter-acting this tendency in provided. This oscillatingetl'ect results from the sudden contraction of the spring as the door panels are moved to their overhead position. This sudden contraction obviously tends to cause the repeated expansion or contraction or in other words, oscillationof the spring. Under such circumstances the lighter spring 128 serves to counter-act the tendency for the spring 122 to oscillate.

This will be clear from Figures 4 and 5 of the draw-' anyshifting of'the spring 122 to the right.

In this manner the spring 128 serves to cour.- ter-act any oscillating movements ofv the s ring 122. In Figure 5, the spring 122 is s own as being completely lcontracted and the tension in the spring 128 is sufficient to exert a force on the spring 122 and the chain 110 to prevent said elements from sagging. Obviously, other shifting means might be ern-` ployed for causing a greater or less tension to e placed upon the main lifting spring without departing from the spirit and scope of the The types of heavy duty present invention. springs which are employed 1n connection with garage doors of the type described, have a tendency to oscillate for a considerable period after the door has been swung upwardly, and as. abovedescribed, my improved compensating or shifting means 128 serves to positively avoid this diiiiculty. In Figure 7 door panel 42. It will be noted that in this modified arrangement I support the pin 60 inv a bracket 144 which is pivotally mounted at its upper end between a pair of ears 146 projecting outwardly from the plate 58. In instances where a relatively narrow bracket such as the bracket 112, Figure 10, is 'employed, it may not be necessary to have the shaft 60 mounted in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3. However, where it is necessary to'have a heavier type of bracket as for example a bracket which is nearlyas thick as the door panel itself, it would be necessary to have relative movement between the roller and the door panel. This will be apparent when it is understood that the surface of the bracket 112, Figure 10, which I- have indicated by the numeral 146', must slide along the upper surface 106 of the guide rail when the door panels are horizontally positioned. Henee, when the panel 42 reaches this upper position, the distance between the surface 146 and the axis of the roller 62 must necessarily be increased.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that -myinvention contemplates the provision of an overhead door construction which is of simple and durable construction and which readily lends itselr` .for use in connection with door openings for garages space to accommodate these elements.

and the like. One of its outstanding advantages resides in the fact that the uppermost door panel may be quickly swung rearwardly in such a manner as to reduce to a minimum the 'distance through which the upper edge of said panel must be elevated. In this manner only a very small portin of the space above the rails need be employed to enable the upper edge of the panel .36 to be moved. from a vertical to a horizontal position. To further expedite the installation of my im-A proved door :operating mechanism I vhave positioned all of the lifting devices such as the lifting chain, pulleys, counter-balancing springs and the like below the upper plane of the lguide rails. In this manner I have elizsiinated the necessity of employing overhead in fact, when the 'door panels occupy their normal door closing position as shown in .Figure 4, nothing projects into the space 'above the guide rails except the deilecting element 108 which is positioned immediately above the door jamb. The independently operable car'- riage mechanism for controlling the operation of the upper door panel 36 provides an effective means for permitting the upper panel to be quickly swun rearwardly and also serves to positively e ect the closing of said upper door panel. It will be observed that when the adjustable portion of Ithe rocker arm is swung rearwardly away from the upper panel, said panel freely rests upon the spring housing and is not in any way positively connected to the carriage device. In this manner the upper door panel may quickly be removed with considerable ease Y for purposes of repair orreplacement, it being only necessary to disengage the panel from association witln the hinge pins 44. The rollers52, 54, 56 and 62 are so positioned with respect to the inner-surfaces of the door panels that they will cause said panels tobe tightly forced against the door jamb. tf tention is directed to the position occupied by the roller 104 carriedby the plate 74 when the door panels are in their closing position as shown in Figure 4. In this position the axis of the roller 104 is positioned at a disf tance from the inner surface of the door panels which is less than the distancebetween the axis of the rollers 52, 54, 56 and 62 and said surface. This results from having the roller 104 movable along the outer sur` face 106 of the guide rail and enables the rocker arm to`be forced tightly against the door panel 36. The counter-balancing means as above described,'serves to effectively avoid any to-and-fro movement oi the door panels after they have once been moved .to 'their uppermost positions. Said counter-balancing means also operates to maintain the position of the panels during their partiallyv closed setting,.that is, said counter-balancing means will maintain the panels in any position of adjustment. The adjustable feature of the' rocker-arm enables said arm to be adjusted in accordance with the-particular shown in Figures 4 and 5 and the weight 138 shown in Figure 7, is being covered in a separate divisional application filed December 26, 1929, SerialNo. 416,493.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim asfnew and deslre to secure'by Letters Patenti's: Y u

1. In an overhead door construction of the 'i class described, -a plurality o h ingedly connected shiftable door panels, guidin -means to direct the moven'aent of sai-d panels etween closed and opened overhead lifting means comprising a exible lifting ositions, and l laov element operatively connected with said panels and positioned along the outer side of said panel guiding means, and means for directing the travel of said element, all of the parts constituting said lifting means being positioned below the upper plane of said door guiding means, whereby to reduce to a minimum the overhead space necessary for installation.

2. In combination with a door opening of a garage or the like, an overhead door construction comprising a plurality of hingedly connected shiftable door panels for traversing said door opening, guiding means to direct the movement of said panels between closed and opened overhead positions, the

upper portion of said guiding means beingK positioned above the uppermost plane of the A door opening, and lifting means for said panels including a flexible shifting element and guiding means therefor and positioned along the outer side of the panel guiding means, said lifting means being positioned below the upper plane of said door guiding means.

3. In an overhead door construction of the class described, a plurality of hingedly connected shiftable door panels, guiding means to direct the movement of said panels between closed and opened overhead positions, and lifting means including a flexible lifting element, guiding means therefor, and counterbalancing means, all of the constituent parts of said lifting means being positioned below the upper plane of said dooi` guiding means, whereby to reduce the overhead space neces- Sary for installation.

4. In combination with the door opening of a garage or the like, an overhead door construction including guide rails having substantially vertical sections adjacent the door jambs and a curved section connecting the vertical section with a substantially horizontal section, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels which are adapted to be guided by and moved along said rai1s,.a flexible lifting element connected at one extremity to the lowermost door panel, the other extremity thereof being secured in a fixed position, pulleys for guiding said flexible element, and a counter-balancing means connected with said flexible element, said flexible element, pulleys and. counter-balancing means being positioned below the upper plane of the horizontal section of the guide rails, thereby effecting a considerable reduction in the overhead space required for installation.

5. In an overhead door construction of the class described, a plurality of shiftable hingedly connected door panels, guiding means havingvertically and horizontally isposed sections for directing the mo\ ement of said panels between a substantially verticall door closing position and a substantially horizontal overhead position, and lifting means therefor including a flexible lifting element operatively connected with the panels, and pulleys for directing the movement of said flexible element, one of said pulleys being positioned adjacent the upper end of the vertical section of said guiding means and below the upper plane of said guiding means and another adjacent the forward end of the horizontal section of said guiding means whereby to properly guide said flexible element inv shifting between vertical and horizontal positions.

6. In an overhead door construction of the class described, a plurality of shiftable doorl panels, guiding means having vertically and horizontally dis osed sections for directing the movement o said panels between a substantially vertical door closing position and a substantially horizontal overhead position, lifting means therefor including a flexible element operatively connected with the panels, pulleys for directing the movement of said flexible element, and means positioned adjacent said panel, guiding means in the path of the flexible element for engaging said element when the lower-most door section approaches its limiting overhead position.

7. In an overhead door construction of the class described, a plurality of shiftable door panels, guide rails having'vertically and horizontally disposed sections for directing the movement of said panels, said vertically and horizontally disposed sections being connected by a curved section,'lifting means including a flexible element operatively connected with the panels, guide rolls positioned at opposite extremities of the curvedsection of the rail for directing said flexible lifting element, and means positioned adjacent said rail intermediate said guide rollers for engaging the flexible lifting element as the lowermost door section approaches its'limiting overhead position.

- 8. In an overhead door construction of the class described, a lurality of shiftable hingedly connected oor panels, guide rails having vertically andv horizontally disposed' sections for directing the movement of said panels, a flexible lifting element operatively connected with said door panels, resilient counter-balancing means connected to said flexible lifting element and means positioned in the path of said flexible element which is adapted to be engaged after the doors reach their overhead position, thereby cooperating with said resilient counter-balancing means to give a cushioning effect in arresting the movement of said panels. I

9. In an overhead door construction of the class described, a plurality of shiftable hingedly connected door panels, guide rails having vertical and horizontally disposed sections interconnected by a curved section for directing the movement of said panels between the door closin position and opened overhead position, a exible lifting element secured at one` extremity to the lower-most door panel and secured in a fixedy position at its opposite extremity, rollers for` guiding said flexible element, counter-balancing ioning action in arresting the movement of said panels.

l0. In an overhead door construction of the class j described, a plurality of shiftable hingedly connected door panels, guide rails having vertically and horizontally disposed sections for directing the movement of said panels between a closed and open overhead` position, lifting vmeans including a flexible element, pulleys for, directing the movement of said flexible element, and a bracket secured to the lower-most door panel and extending outwardly from the end thereof beyond the outer side of the guide rail, said bracket pro- Viding a mounting for one extremity of the flexible lifting element and serving to maintain a spaced relation between said flexible element and the side .of the guide rail associated therewith.

11. In combination with the door opening of a garage or structure of like nature, an'

overhead doorY construction including guide rails having substantially vertical sections adjacent the door j ambs, a curved section and a substantially Vhorizontal upper section, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels which are adapted to be guided by' and moved along said -rails, 'and apanel controlling device associated with the upper-most panel and operable independently ;thei'geof, said device having means for engaging said upper panel to effect the closing'thereof when said panel is moved to-its 'closing position, and also independent means for supporting said upper panel when it assumesits overhead position.

l2. In combination with a door opening of a garage or structure of like nature, an overhead door construction including guide rails' having substantially vertical sections adjacent the door jambs, curved sections and substantially horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels which are adapted to be guided by and moved along said rails, and a panel controlling device positioned adjacent the upper-most panel, said device including a lever mechanism adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with respect to the upper panel, the movement toward the panel serving to clamp said panel against the door-jamb and the movement away from the panel serving to permit the free swinging movement of the panel independently by the rail curvature as the door panels are moved upwardly,

13. In combination with a door` opening of a garage or structure of like nature, an overhead door construction including guide rails having substantially vertical sections adjacent the door ambs, curved sections and substantially horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels which are adapted to be guided by and moved along said rails, and a panel controlling device positioned adjacent the uppermost panel, said device including a lever mechanism adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with respect to the upper panel, the movement toward the panel serving to clamp said panel against the door jamb and the movement away from the panel serving to permit the free swinging movement of the panel as the door panels are moved upwardly, and means for constantly urging said lever mechanism away from panel engaging relation.

l4.ln combination with the door opening of a garage or structure of like nature, an overhead door construction including guide rails having substantially vertical sections adjacent the door j ambs, curved sections and substantially horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels which are adapted to be guided by and moved along said rails, a panel controlling device associated with the uppermost door panel, said device including a lever mechanism adapted to be swung into engagement with the upper-most panel to effect the closing thereof against the door jamb, and to be swung out of engagement with said panel when said panel is moved to 4the overhead position, independent means providing the-sole'- support for thel panel in its overhead position, and a fixed abutment adapted ltobe v.engaged by the lever' mechanism to effect the Panel closing actuation thereof.

15. In combinatiori with: a door opening of a garage or structure of like nature,"an overhead door constructionmclndnig guide rails having substantially vertical sections adjacent the'door j ambs, curved sections and substantially horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels which are adapted to be guided-by and moved along said rails, and a panel controlling device associated with said rails, said device including a roller mounted upon said rail, a support for said roller, and a lever mechanism -pivotally mounted upon said' support, said lever mechanism adapted to be swung` into engagement with the uppermost panel to eect the closing thereof against the door jamb and to be swung out of engagement with the panel when sai-d panel 1s moved tothe overhead position.

16. In combination with a door opening of,

a garage or structure ofl like nature, an overf'.,`

head door construction including guide rails,

. a plurality of hingedly connected door panels carried by said guide rails and adapted to be moved between closed and opened overhead positions, and a panel controlling device associated with said guide rail,vsaid device having means for automatically engaging the uppermost door panel to effect the closing thereof and means for receiving said uppermost door panel as it is swung rearwardly upon the upward movement thereof, said means providing arest for supporting said upper panel when said panel occupies its overhead position. i

17. In combination with the door opening of a garage or structure of like nature, an overhead door construction including guide rails, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels which are adapted tobe guided by and moved along said rails between closed and opened overhead positions, and a panel controlling device associated with said guide rail, said device including a lever mechanism for engaging the -uppermost panel to effect the closing thereof against the door j amb, and a rest for receiving said uppermost panel as it is swung rearwardly away from the vertical position, said rest being designed to support the uppermost panel in its overhead position so as topermit said panel to be swung freely away from said rest, whereby to facilitate the detachment of said uppermost door panel.

18. In combination with a door opening of a garage or structure of like nature, an overhead door construction including guide rails,

said rails having a substantially vertical section adjacent the door jamb, a curved section and asubstantially horizontal section, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels which are adapted to be guided by and moved alongy said rails, a panel controlling device mou'nted on one of said rails, said device including means for effecting the closing of the uppermost panel and means for supporting said uppermost panel when -said panel is moved to its overhead osition, and means connecting said controlling device with the hinged structure between the uppermost and next adjacent door panel.

19. The combination with a door opening of a garage or structure of like nature, an overhead door construction including guide rails having a section positioned adjacent the vertical door jamb, a curved section and a substantially horizontal section, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels which are adapted to be guided by and moved along said rails, rollers carried by said door anels at points approximating their hinge connections, said rollers being guided in said rails, and a panel controllingdevice mountedupon one of said guide rails, said device including a roller movable along the guide rail, the distance between the axis of said roller and the inner surface of said door panels when in overhead door construction includin vclosed position being less than the distance between the aXis of the next adjacent panel supporting roll and said inner surface of the panels, whereby to effect the firm clamping of the upper panel against the door j amb.

20. In combination with the door opening of a garage or structure of like nature, an overhead door construction including guide rails, each of said rails including a section p0- sitioned adjacent the vertical door jamb, a curved section and a substantially horizontal section, a plurality of hingedly connected door panels slidably mounted within said rails, a deflecting means positioned above the door opening adapted to be engaged by the upper edge of the uppermost door panel, said delector serving to effect the rearward swinging of said uppermost door panel, and means for receiving said uppermost door panel as it is swung rearwardly in response to the engagement of said panel with the de'lector.

2l. In combination with the door opening of a garage or structure of like nature, an overhead door construction including guide rails having substantially vertical sections adjacent each of the door jambs, curved sections and substantially horizontal sections, a plurality of hingedly. connected door panels which are adapted to be guided by and moved along said rails, and a panel controlling device slidable along one of said guide rails, s'aiddevice including a lever mechanism adapted to be swung into engagement with the uppermost panel to effect the closing thereof against the door jamb, said lever mechanism having means for adjusting the length thereof whereby the closing action of said lever mechanism may be adjustably controlled. l

22. In combination with the door of a garage or .structure of like nature, an overhead door construction including guide rails having a substantially vertical section adjacent thereof when said panel is moved toward its overhead position, said lever mechanism having a longitudinall adjustable lever arm for adjustably control ing the panel closing action of said arm. l

23. In combination'with the door opening of a garage or structure of like nature, .gin gui e rails having horizontally and vertica ly disposed sections, a plurality of door anels slidable within said guide rails, and exible lifting elements secured at one extremity to the lower-most door panel, said exible elements being positioned externally to one side of the guide rails, whereby to avoid interference between the flexible elements and ,the guide rails.

24. In an overhead door construction of the class described, a plurality of hingedly connected shiftable door panels, guide rails for directing said panels from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal overhead position, lifting means attached to an extension on the lower door panel, guiding means positioned at the lower corner of the lowermost door panel, said guidin means being movable along one of said gui e rails, and

a shitable support for said guiding means,

whereby said guiding means may be shifted laterally of'the'door panel to prevent said extension from binding on said guide means.

25. In an overhead door construction of the class described, a plurality of hingedly connected shiftable door panels, guide rails for directing said panels from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal overhead position, lifting means attached to an extension on the lower door panel, guiding means positioned at the lower corner of the lowermost door panel, said uiding means being'movable along one of said ide rails. and a pivotal mounting for saldguiding means, whereby relative movement may be effected between said guiding means and the door panel with which it is associated, to prevent said extension from binding on said guide means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

DOUGLAS A. WILSON. 

